TREVOR WEEKS: An unusual goose, plus our plea for volunteers to help care for small birds

Brent goose found in Lewes SUS-170103-090546001

Published:07:00Saturday 04 March 2017

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This gorgeous Brent goose was delivered to WRAS’s casualty centre on Monday, after being found on a pathway in Lewes.

He is quite underweight and weak, although he still has a bit of an attitude.

He was settled down at our hospital and later in the day transported for long term care up at the swan sanctuary.

The pressure is really building now for Sunday’s Eastbourne Half Marathon, which my colleague Chris has challenged me to complete.

I’ve had an injured knee for the past week so not been able to put in the distance I had hoped in advance and I’m having treatment too, but even if I end up having to walk the last bit I will get to the finishing line!

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me.

The target has gone over £1,000 now. I’ll let you how I’ve done next week!

Miracle is a gorgeous if somewhat grubby ‘white’ pigeon we took on from Bexhill Wildlife Rescue on February 8 as she was going to need a lot of one-on-one time.

She was filthy and covered in blood and injuries when they got her, she had a severe head injury which has left her with a lump on her head and weakness down one leg.

She also had severe coccidiosis.

She is still not able to balance very well or stand without propping herself up, but is trying very hard, and thinks she can fly, so it makes life interesting.

She was emaciated but after weeks of crop feeding she is now gaining weight and now about half of what she should be and is able to eat when seed is put in front of her as well.

A long way to go, but a real sweetheart who squeaks like a baby, her enthusiasm for life is a little of a hindrance to her learning to balance as she is so excitable, but fingers crossed for her.

We are definitely in this for the long term.

With spring around the corner, we are starting to look for more people to join our volunteer orphan rearing team at our casualty care centre on the A22 at Whitesmith, which is located between Golden Cross and East Hoathly.

Every year WRAS sees hundreds of baby birds come into care because they are sick, injured or have been abandoned.

Some of which will need feeding from early in the morning to late in the evening.

We require a team of committed and reliable volunteers to help us feed and clean the young birds that come into care, from tiny robins and blue tits to swallows, magpies, jays as well as tawny owls and much more.

No previous experience is needed.

During the height of the season feeds are a regular as every 15 minutes and some of the cages require some bending and lifting in order to clean and feed, this requires you to be fit and mobile.

This is however extremely rewarding, being up close to these birds and seeing them grow and help them recover and eventually released.

Volunteers are expected to commit to one regular shift per week from roughly April-September (obviously holiday is allowed) the shifts are 7am till 10am, 10am till 2pm, 2pm till 6pm and 6pm till 10pm every day of the week.

Some shifts are already taken, but we have quite a few vacancies. If you are interested in joining the orphan rearing team please contact Katie via email katie@eastsussexwras.org.uk.

We have now had more than 25 young doves come into care this year and the numbers keep rising.

This week we have had two in from Willingdon, one from Southover High Street in Lewes and Marlborough Place Eastbourne plus Upper Horsebridge too.

We have also had our first baby rabbit of the year too, but sadly it was not in a good condition and sadly passed away a couple of days into its care.

Other calls this week have included a pigeon unable to fly at Mayfield Place Eastbourne, a pigeon in Frobisher Close Langney, a catted blackbird in Pine Walk Uckfield, a road casualty gull in Eastbourne and Crowborough and a duck in Bodle Street Green to name a few.

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